Trends in the use of echocardiography, 2007 to 2011: Data Points #20

Beth A Virnig, Nathan D Shippee, Brian O'Donnell, Jessica Zeglin, Shriram Parashuram, Beth A Virnig, Nathan D Shippee, Brian O'Donnell, Jessica Zeglin, Shriram Parashuram

Excerpt

Echocardiography is a widely used procedure among the Medicare-enrolled population. Each year approximately 20% of enrollees in the fee-for-service (FFS) system receive at least one cardiac echocardiogram.

The percentage of enrollees who receive echocardiography services varies widely by geography. Use of echocardiography rises with age until age 85, where it plateaus.

Allowed health care charges for echocardiography decreased from 2007 through 2011 while the number of procedures rose slightly and the average number of procedures per beneficiary per year remained stable.

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Source: PubMed

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